Maggi noodles in soup following alleged contamination of samples in UP

Thursday, 30 November, 2017, 08 : 00 AM [IST]

Harcha Bhaskar, Mumbai

Nestlé India Ltd, manufacturer of Maggi Noodles, has become embroiled in a fresh controversy with the latest report submitted by the district administration in Uttar Pradesh’s Shahjahanpur district claiming that the samples were contaminated with ash beyond the permissible limit.

This is the second incident involving the company, following the controversy regarding lead content in the same product. According to the reports, the Maggi samples were collected in 2015.

“While we have not received the orders passed by the adjudication officer, we have been informed that the samples were collected in 2015, and the issue pertained to ash content in noodles,” he added.

“This appears to be a case of application of incorrect standards, and we will file an appeal urgently once we receive the order,” the spokesperson said.

He added, “In 2015, Nestlé India and other companies had represented to the relevant authorities, via industry associations, to set standards specific to instant noodles to avoid confusion amongst enforcement officers and consumers.”

“The standards have since been introduced, and the product complies with these standards. We regret the confusion it may cause to the consumers,” the spokesperson stated.

In 2015, Maggi noodles were banned by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the country’s apex food regulator, after some test reports found that they contained lead and monosodium glutamate (MSG) that was higher than permissible limits.

Nestle India contested the ban in the Bombay High Court, who set aside the ban and ordered fresh tests.

Later in a statement, the company stated that all the 90 samples, covering six variants, were found to be safe after the testing in the three prescribed laboratories.

It added that hereafter, it would start the process of relaunching the product in the Indian market.

Meanwhile, the company added that Nestlé India had always maintained that Maggi noodles were safe.

It conducted over 3,500 tests on over 200 million packs in both nationally- as well as internationally-accredited laboratories, and all the reports were clear.